Dispensers for liquids or powders



Filed Feb. 24, 1960 E. m E W I A TTORNE Y Dec. 4, 1962 H. E. R.KlNGsBURY DISPENSERS FOR LIQUIDS OR POWDERS United States Patent3,066,834 DISPENSERS FOR LIQUIDS GR PWDERS Henry Edmund RolandKingsbury, Iver Heath, England,

assigner to Electroiube Limited, Buckinghamshire, England, a Britishcompany Filed Feb. 24, 196i), Ser. No. 10,622 Claims priority,appiication Great Britain Feb. 27, 1959 6 Claims. (Cl. 222-215) Thepresent invention relates to dispensers for liquids and powders andparticularly but not exclusively oils.

An object :of this invention is to provide an improved dispenser whichis readily adjustable between a compact closed condition in which escapeof its contents is effectively prevented -and an operative condition inwhich it is adapted for the convenient depositing of small quantities ofits liquid contents in places which are not readily accessible.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a dispenserserving, when used in combination with a resiliently distortablecontainer having an orifice, for dispensing liquids or powders,comprising a body formed so that, in use, part of it serves as a closurefor the orifice and part constitutes a neck extending outwards from theorifice and having a bore extending through it from an inner surface ofthe closure part to lan outer surface of the neck part; a delivery tube-arranged for sealed sliding movement in the bore between a fullywithdrawn position, in which only a relatively short part of its lengthprojects externally from the neck part and a fully extended position inwhich a relatively long part of its length so projects; and a capremovably fitted over the neck part or `adapted to t over a part of thecontainer surrounding the orifice and provided internally with holdingmeans arranged for releasably engaging the projecting part of thedelivery tube; the arrangement being such that the delivery tube in thefully withdrawn position is releasably engaged by the holding means inthe cap when the cap is fully engaged over the said part of thecontainer and such that the cap, on being removed and pulled out a givendistance away from the neck will draw out the delivery tube through thebore from the fully withdrawn position into the fully extended positionbefore the holding means become disengaged from the delivery tube.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided adispenser for liquids or powders comprising: a resiliently distortablecontainer having a bore extending from the inside to the outside of thecontainer through a neck part; a delivery tube arranged for sealedsliding movement in the bore between a fully Withdrawn position in whichonly a relatively short part of its length projects externally from theneck part and a fully extended position in which a relatively long partof its length so projects; and a cap removably fitted over the neck partor over a part of the container surrounding the bore and providedinternally with holding means for releasably engaging the projectingpart of the delivery tube; the arrangement being such that the deliverytube in the fully withdrawn position is releasably engaged by theholding means in the cap when the cap is fully engaged over the neckpart or over the said part of the container and such that the cap onbeing removed and pulled out a given distance away from the neck partwill draw out the delivery tube through the bore from the fullyWithdrawn position into the fully extended position before the holdingmeans become disengaged from the delivery tube.

The expressions fully withdrawn position and fully extended position areused here to mean positions in which the small bore tube is prevented byengagement with positive stops, abutments or the like from furthermovement into the container and out of the container respectively; theexpression sealed sliding movement is used in relation to the fitting ofthe tube in the bore to mean that the sliding fit is sufficiently closeto locate and guide the delivery tube while provision is made to preventleakage of any appreciable quantity of the contents of the containerbetween the outside of the tube and the wall of the bore, and theexpressions an inner surface `of the closure part and an outer surfaceof the neck part are used here to mean surfaces of the said body whichwhen the body is tted -to the container form respectively vau innersurface of the space in which the contents of the container are held andan external surface of the assembled container and body.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a dispenser for liquids according to theinvention,

FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views on'an enlarged scale of the upperpart of the dispenser shown in FIGURE l in three different stages ofpreparation for use,

FIGURE 5 is a side view of an alternative form of dispenser for liquids,and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view showing the end part of a delivery tube.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES ll-4, the dispenser, which isgenerally similar in appearance to a fountain pen, has a thin-wallednylon container 1 in the form of an elongated thimble with longitudinalinternal reinforcing ribs 10.

Secured in the mouth `of this container is a spigot portion 3 of apolythene body 2 `acting as a plug.. Adjoining this spigot portion andintegral with it is an enlarged diameter portion 4 the outer surface ofwhich is flush with the outer surface of the container 1. Adjoining theenlarged diameter portion on the side remote from the spigot portion 3is a smaller diameter hollow cylindrical neck 5 carrying a nozzle-shapedextensi-on 6, both these portions also being integral with thepreviously-mentioned portions of the polythene body 2. The body 2 may bemade removable from the container 1 in order to enable the container tobe refilled. A central longitudinal bore 7 extends through thenozzle-shaped extension 6 and in this bore is arranged, with sliding t,a small bore nylon delivery tube 8.

Provision is made to prevent escape for the contents of the container 1from the dispenser between the wall of the bore 7 and the outside of thedelivery tube S. Where the delivery tube S has an accurately uniformexternal diameter, it may be sufficient to arrange the delivery tube tobe a close sliding fit in the bore or in parts of the bore in the formof internal annular ribs. Where however the delivery tube 8 is made fromextruded nylon Or other `tubing the external shape and dimensions ofwhich are not perfectly uniform along its length, auxiliary seals may beprovided in, or at one end of, the bore, which are suiciently resilientt0 accommodate variations in the externa shape and dimensions of thedelivery tube.

The end of the delivery tube 8 inside the container 1 is enlarged at 9to form an annular rib which is adapted to abut against an inner surface1l of the closure part of the body 2 thereby preventing further outwardmovement of the delivery tube 8 from the dispenser and improving thesealing between the delivery tube 8 and the bore 7 of the neck 5 whenthe delivery tube is fully extended.

A second external annular rib i2 is formed on the part of the deliverytube 3 outside the container l and limits the inward movement of thedelivery tube 8 into the container 1. The delivery tube S extendsoutwardly beyond the rib 12 and carries a third external annular rib i3near aoeaess its open end 14. A nylon or high density polythene cap isremovably fitted over the neck 5 of the body 2. The cap 15 is formedintegrally with a clip 15 whlch enables the dispenser to be carried in apocket in the manner of a fountain pen when not required for use.Positive engagement of the cap 15 with the neck S is ensured by anannular bulge 17 near the enlarged portion 4 of the body 2, and aninturned annular lip 1S formed in the mouth of the cap 18 and arrangedto engage resiiiently that part of the body 2 between the bulge 17 andthe enlarged diameter portion 4 when the cap 15 is pushed fully homeonto the neck 5.

` Located in the inner end of the cap 15 by an internal annular rib 19integral with the cap 15 in an insert 21 of polythene. The insert 21 isformed by an axially extending cavity 22 having a flared mouth 23, arestricted passage 24, an enlarged portion adapted to engage snugly thethird annular rib 13, without extensive deformation, and a closed end26. The dimensions of the interior of the cap 1S and of the insert 21are such that, when the cap is pushed fully home over the neck 5 intothe position shown in FIGURE 2 the interior of the cap 15 freelyaccommodates the nozzle-shaped extension 6 of the plug 2 while theenlarged portion 25 of the insert Z2 snugly engages the rib 13 of thedelivery tube 8 and together with the closed end 26 of the insert 22seals on the delivery tube 8.

A washer 31 of foamed synthetic plastic material such as polyurethane islocated in an annular groove 32 in the top of the neck 5 and serves bothto absorb any liquid which may leak out between the delivery tube 8 andits bore 7 and to act as an impregnated wiper for applying the liquid,for example, on to small articles such as screws or electronic valvepins. The sponge Washer 31 is totally enclosed within the dispenser whenthe cap 15 is pushed fully home on the neck 5.

The external diameter of the portion of the cap 15 near its mouth is thesame as that of the enlarged diameter part 4 of the polythene plug 2.

If the cap 15 is now removed and pulled axially away from the body 2, itwill pull out the delivery tube 8 with it until the latter is brought torest in a fully extended position by its inner enlarged diameter rib 9engaging the inner surface 11 of the body 2 as shown in FIGURE 3. OnAfurther pulling out of the cap 15, the rib 13 will be forced throughthe restricted passage 24 in the insert 22, and sliding movement willtake place between the cavity in the cap and the enlarged diameter outerend of the delivery tube S until the cap 15 is completely disengagedfrom the delivery tube 8. The dispenser can now be used to deposit smallquantities of its liquid contents in places which would not otherwise bereadily accessible. The extended projecting end 14 of the delivery tubecan be inserted through narrow gaps and its ilexibility enables it to bebent around small obstructing parts. The delivery tube being made ofnylon can take a temporary set on being bent to a required shape and,since nylon is a good insulator, may safely be used for lubricating liveelectric'al apparatus. The liquid is discharged from the outer end ofthe small bore tube by squeezing the walls of the container 1. Afteruse, the cap 15 may be placed over the projecting end 14 of the deliverytube and pushed axially inward towards the body 2 until its mouth 20begins to engage over the neck 5 of the body 2. The delivery tube is nowbrought to rest in its fully withdrawn posltion by engagement of thesecond rib 12 with the outer end surface of the extension 6, after whichcontinued movement of the cap 15 towards the body 2 causes the rib 13near the end 14 of the delivery tube 8 to be forced through therestricted passage 24 once again into engagement in the enlarged portion25 of the insert 21.

The cavity 22 may alternatively be in the form of a substantiallycylindrical bore of diameter smaller than that of the enlargement on theprojecting part of the delivery tube. The cavity wall is then madesufficiently resilient to deform to the shape shown in FlGURE 2 when theend 14 ofthe delivery tube is forced into it and thereby to grip the endportion of the delivery tube resiliently. t

ln another embodiment of the invention, the cavlty is again cylindricalor slightly tapered inwards towards its closed end but the cavity wallis more rigid. The projecting end of the small bore tube then includes aportion made of resiliently deformable material. This portion may, forexample, have the form of a ring located between two ribs formed on theprojecting part of the delivery tube.

The external diameter of this resiliently deformable portion is normallygreater than the diameter of the cooperating part of the cavity wall sothat the latter again grips the end portion of the delivery tube whenthe latter is forced into it and also seals off the duct in the deliverytube.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5 differs from the previouslydescribed embodiment in that the body portion 1 is replaced by a widernylon bottle shaped container 34 having a at tin plate base 35 spun withor without cement or flexible sealing material onto its lower end toclose the lower end of the bottle 34 and to provide an annular flangesuitable for supporting the dispenser in an upright position on a flatsurface when not in use. The pocket clip 16 on the cap of the pen-shapeddispenser may be omitted in this embodiment.

The body 2 may again be made removable from the bottle 34, for exampleby adapting the body 2 to screw into the mouth 36 of the bottle 34 or byarranging the spigot 3 to oe a tight push tit in the mouth 36 of thebottle 34, which could then be provided with an internal annular rib toengage elastically with an annular groove in the spigot. s

FIGURE 6 shows an alternative construction of the ex-- ternal end of thedelivery tube 8 for use in either of the previously describedembodiments. In this construction the third annular rib 13 on thedelivery tube is formed at 13A on the end 14 of the delivery tube 8.When used with liquids this form of tube end tends to deposit somewhatlarger drops than does the previously described form. Otherwise theoperation of the apparatus is identical.

In a further embodiment of the invention (not illusE trated) theinterior of the cap is formed with a tapered hollow part which `freelyaccommodates the nozzleshaped part of the polythene plug and beyond thistapered hollow part there is provided a smaller tapered bore into whichthe enlarged diameter outer end of the delivery tube is forced when thecap is iitted. The dimensions of this tapered bore are such in relationto the diameter of the enlarged diameter outer end of the tube that thelatter becomes tightly engaged with the cap when the cap is pushed overthe reduced diameter part of the polythene plug as far as it will go.

In alternative forms (not illustrated) of the previously describedembodiments the part of the delivery tube within the container is guidedin a central tubular guide having a `seating forming part orf a closedend at the extremity thereof corresponding to the closed end of thecontainer body, which seating limits the inward travel of the deliverytube in the withdrawn position. For the greater part of its length thistubular guide has an internal diameter only just suicient to allow forsliding movement of the delivery tube. At the end nearest the body,however, its wall is tapered outwardly and formed with apertures. Thus,when the delivery tube is in its fully withdrawn position, it is sealedoff by the tubular guide ifrom the contents of the dispenser. When,however, it is in its fully extended position the liquid contents of thedispenser can flow through the apertures in the outwardly tapered partof bthe tubular guide and enter the inner end of the delivery tu e.

l claim:

1. A drop-by-drop liquid dispenser comprising a exible walled containerhaving a mouth, a closure member for said mouth having a boretherethrough, a small bore delivery tube closely tted in said bore forsliding movement therein and formed with abutment surfaces adapted toengage said closure member to limit the sliding movement of said tubetherethrough between a retracted position in which a relatively shortlength of said tube projects outwardly from said closure member and anextended position in which a relatively long length so projects, and acap releasably engaged on said closure member and provided internallywith a cavity for accommodating said relatively short tube length, saidcavity having a flared entrance at one end and a closed base at theother end, the flared entrance defining a restricted passage and openingto a zone having wall surfaces for releasably gripping said relativelyshort tube length to an extent such that, on removal of the cap, saidshort tube length will remain connected therewith until it reaches theextended position, whereupon continued movement of the cap will resultin the release therefrom of the short tube length.

2. A dispenser :for fluent material comprising a resilient container forsaid material having an opening therein, a closure member in saidopening having a bore therethrough, a delivery tube having a portion ofconstant cross-section slidable and close fitting in said bore and anoutlet portion, a lirst enlargement at the free end of said constantcross-section portion to limit outward movement thereof in said bore, asecond enlargement at the junction of said constant cross-sectionportion and said outlet portion to limit inward movement of said tube insaid bore and a cap releasably engaged on said closure member andprovided internally with gripping surfaces for releasably gripping saidoutlet portion sufciently to move said tube, on axial removal of saidcap from said closure member, in said bore until said iirst enlargementcontacts said closure member before releasing said outlet portion.

3. A drop-by-drop liquid dispenser comprising a flexiblewalled containerhaving an opening therein, a closure member secured in said opening andhaving a bore therethrough, a small bore delivery tube having a portionof constant cross-section slidable and close fitting in said bore and anoutlet portion adjoining said portion of constant cross-section, aiii-st enlargement at the free end of said portion or constantcross-section to limit outward movement of said tube in said bore, asecond enlargement at the junction of said portion of constantcross-section and said outlet portion, to limit inward movement of saidtube in said bore and a cap releasably engaged on said closure memberand provided internally with resiliently deformable Walls for grippingsaid outlet portion, said resiliently deformable walls defining a cavityextending inwardly into the cap from a llared mouth inside the capthrough a region having a cross-section greater than that of said outletportion to include a region having a normal crosssection less than thatof said outlet portion.

4. A drop-by-drop liquid dispenser comprising a resilient-walledcontainer having an orifice, a closure member having a spigot portionsecured in said orice, a neck portion outside said container and a borethrough said spigot and neck portions, a close fitting small bore tubeslidably located in said bore, a first annular rib on said tube at theend thereof inside said container, a second annular rib on said tubeadjacent the end of said tube outside said container, a third annularrib on said tube intermediate said rst and second ribs and outside saidcontainer, and a cap having a skirt releasably engaged on said `closuremember neck portion and an end portion provided internally withresiliently deformable walls deiining a cavity and adapted to grip saidsecond annular rib sufficiently rmly to draw out said tube in said boreon removal of said cap until said iirst rib contacts said spigot beforesaid second rib is released by said cavity Walls.

5. A pen-type drop-by-drop liquid dispenser comprising aresilient-walled elongated container having an opening at one endthereof, a closure member having a hollow spigot portion secured in saidopening and a cylindrical neck portion extending outside said containerand having a bore therethrough, an annular shoulder on said neckportion, an annular ridge on said neck portion and spaced from saidshoulder, a small-bore delivery tube having a sliding portion slidableand close-fitting in said bore and an outlet portion adjoining saidsliding portion, a first annular enlargement at the junction of saidtube portions outside said bore, a second annular enlargement on the endof said tube inside the container, a hollow removable cap of resilientmaterial having a cylindrical skirt engaged on said neck and abuttingsaid shoulder, an inturned lip at the open end of said skirt beingsnapped over said ridge between said ridge and said shoulder and aninsert of resilient material secured in the interior of said cap andformed with a closed ended cavity in which said outlet nozzle isreleasably engaged, said cavity extending from a dared mouth directedtowards the open end of said cap through successively first a regionhaving a cross- -section less than that of the outlet nozzle parttherein engaged and a second region having a cross-section greater thanthat of said outlet nozzle part engaged in said first region.

6. A pen-type drop-by-drop liquid dispenser according to claim 5, inwhich a third annular enlargement is formed on said outlet nozzle `andis releasably engaged in said second region.

References 'Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS247,855 Smalley Oct. 4, 1881 2,529,836 Darlington Nov. 14, 19502,665,945 Barton Jan. 12, 1954 2,670,885 Allen Mar. 2, 1954 2,773,632Dobbins Dec. l1, 1956 2,792,975 Yorker May 21, 1957 2,904,232 GerstenSept. 15, 1959 FORElGN PATENTS 258,401 Switzerland May 2, 1949

